Credit raising score tip

Dallas

GETTING AN EDUCATION: The first two games of the team's first playoff series in 11 years offered some bitter lessons for a young team. Primary lesson: Playoff experience does matter. Coaches warned that the more physical Jazz would try to use intimidating tactics, but the Mavericks spent too much time fixated on what they thought was uneven officiating.... SG Michael Finley was not intimidated in his first playoff action, raising his aggressiveness from the regular season and getting to the free-throw line 11 times in Game 2.

BIG BENCH HOLE: Swingman Greg Buckner's hard-edged presence was missed against the Jazz. Buckner had a dislocated kneecap, and the bench sagged without his passion and ability to guard four positions. Unlike many teammates, Buckner will drive and risk physical contact rather than settle for the long jumper. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but his grit would have lifted the team in a playoff environment. --Ken Sins

Denver

MONEY PROBLEMS: The Nuggets will enter free agency with a long wish list. They want a third scorer to complement PF Antonio McDyees and PG Nick Van Exel. They want another big man. And, depending on what happens with Robert Pack, a free agent after July 1, the Nuggets might be in the market for a backup point guard. The team will be operating at a distinct disadvantage in free agency--it has only two salary-cap exceptions to offer.

STATE OF THE STAFF: Besides the ongoing issue of coach/president Dan Issel's fate, other staff movement could be on the horizon. Assistant coach John Lucas is in the running for the vacant head coaching jobs in Cleveland and Detroit. Kim Hughes is expected to step aside as director of player personnel and become a full-time assistant coach. With so many balls in the air, and the NBA draft approaching, it would make sense to get everything in place as soon as possible. --Michael BeDan

Golden State

NOT SO FAST: A disappointing season didn't diminish SG Larry Hughes' confidence. Hughes hopes to sign a contract extension "for the max" before training camp. He entered this season saddled with lofty expectations and failed to meet them by almost any standard. He rebounded well and erased any concern about not being a team player, but Hughes did not show the kind of progress to suggest that he is worth anything close to the deal he expects. He is a perfect example of a high-volume shooter, needing 16.1 shots a game to average 16.5 points, and his 38.3 percent field-goal accuracy and 18.7 percent clip from 3-point range overshadowed the positives he offered in 50 games between injuries.

NO SURE THING: G.M. Garry St. Jean sounds lukewarm about re-signing 37-year-old SF Chris Mullin. Ten Warriors have guaranteed contracts, and the team probably will exercise its option on rookie G/F Chris Porter's two-year deal. --Brad Weinstein

Houston

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL: The team received an unexpected bonus last week. They received the Magic's No. 18 pick in the June draft, which they received from the Knicks in a residual move from the three-team trade that landed them Steve Francis from the Grizzlies. The Pistons still owe the Rockets a first-round pick but aren't likely to give it up this year because they hold just one, which happens to be a lottery pick. The Rockets have picks 18 and 22 (from the Bucks in the Joel Przybilla-Jason Collier deal), along with their own, which is expected to be No. 13.

SMALL FORWARD TARGETED: The Rockets most likely will try to move up in the draft to acquire a much-needed small forward. And there are some nice small forwards to covet: Duke's Shane Battier, Arkansas' Joe Johnson and Maryland's Terence Morris. But Arizona's Richard Jefferson, a 6-7 player is who is just beginning to blend his athleticism with true basketball ability, would be a great pick. --Michael Murphy

L.A. Clippers

BIG PICK: In planning for the draft, the Clippers have not counted out dealing their first-round pick. On a team loaded with young players, the addition of another inexperienced player might not be such a good thing. But if they keep their pick, which could be as high as sixth overall, they likely would go for a center. A big man who could play center and possibly some power forward would give the team insurance in case C Michael Olowokandi departs as a restricted free agent after next season.

BIG TALK: Speaking of big men, the Clippers might target a veteran one this offseason. They picked up the option year on PF Brian Skinner's contract in training camp last year, but injuries have hampered his development. He will be a restricted free agent after next season. Veteran PF Cherokee Parks, who played well after being picked up in a trade, is an unrestricted free agent. So it wouldn't hurt the team to pick up another player who could eat up minutes in the middle next season. --Lonnie White

L.A. Lakers

CLICKING: SG Kobe Bryant is, at last, more solidly in playmaker-first mode. C Shaqullie O'Neal is, at last, cool with Bryant. With the ball moving better than it has since Magic Johnson's first retirement, the role players have turned it up. You don't hear much about the loss of Glen Rice anymore because his replacement, SF Rick Fox, has become a solid double-figures scorer who plays better defense.... This is a better Lakers team than the one that scraped by the Blazers in the conference finals a year ago. It must remain better as a possible second-round matchup with the Kings would be just as tough, if not tougher, than last year when they pushed the Lakers in Round 1.

NO BIG THING: Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy made a big issue of O'Neal's camping in the lane. But even if O'Neal sets up in there on occasion, it's not the key to his success. The key is his mix of bulk and athleticism that lets him get deep position, plus Bryant's willingness--at last--to deliver the ball on time. --Mark Heisler

Minnesota

STRONG SUPPORT: Unsung heroes came through in Game 3 against the Spurs as they have all season. The stars--PF Kevin Garnett, PG Terrell Brandon and SF Wally Szczerbiek--all played very well, but the most notable performance was that of Reggie Slater. The undersized, overbulked center worked Tim Duncan into foul trouble, and Slater's contribution went way beyond his 6-point, 6-rebound, 22-minute effort. By cutting the Spurs off at the knees and taking Duncan out of the picture, Slater helped his team avoid a sweep.

HANDY TIP: The Spurs exemplify how to build a team apart from the draft, which could help the Wolves who have one first-round pick in the next five drafts after the Joe Smith debacle. In the last 10 drafts, the Spurs have selected five players in the first round and traded their other five first picks. The only draftees in uniform now are Duncan and David Robinson. The Spurs had a heck of a starting point with the pair. The Wolves can build around Garnett, Brandon and Szczerbiak. --John Millea

Phoenix

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Just as G/F Mario Elie predicted, the matchup to watch in the first-round series with the Kings was at small forward. Game 1 went to Shawn Marion; Game 2 to Predrag Stojakovic. Marion, at 6-7, 215, gave up 2 inches and about 20 pounds to Stojakovic. But after Game 1, Stojakovic compared Marion's defense to that of Scottie Pippen. Marion didn't leave Stojakovic, even to offer weakside help on defense. But in Game 2, Stojakovic was able to get open and hit some shots even when defended closely. Maybe as important, he kept Marion off the offensive glass in both games, and that's where Marion gets a lot of points--and the Suns get their momentum.

ABSENT OFFENSE: The search for point production often came up empty in Game 2. PG Jason Kidd's recent aggressiveness was mostly absent after he missed a lot of shots early, and the team struggled to get anything out of its halfcourt offense, PF Clifford Robinson, who entered the series with a career playoff shooting mark of 40.4 percent, also struggled. --Bob Young

Portland

NEUTRALIZED: SG Steve Smith is a threat as long as he gets shots, which is next to impossible when he's not the featured scorer. He took just eight shots in the first game against the Lakers, 10 in the second. That's not enough for him to be effective.... SF Scottie Pippen has done everything in his power to rally the Blazers this season, but he keeps falling short. Perhaps he's not as resilient as he used to be, but when has he ever faced this much turmoil?